As educational technology advances at an exponential rate so does the importance of having a plan to help guide educational leaders' decisions about what to purchase and how to use it. Effective and clear technology plans help reduce the chances that money and resources will be wasted.
Office of Educational Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2016, from http://tech.ed.gov/
Common Features of a Technology Plan
Profile of the District
Overarching Technology Goal/Vision
Implementation
Budget/Funding
Professional Development
Evaluation
In an article by See (1992), the following guidelines are suggested for effective technology plans.
Technology plans should be short term in order to stay current with changes in technology.
They should be focused on applications, not technology
They should define technology as more than computers
Effective plans emphasize on integration of technology into the curriculum
Technology integration should be part of school improvement plans
They reassess the budget to obtain the money necessary for technology.
Plans are based on research.
They are focused on a vision.
See, J. (1992). Developing Effective Technology Plans. The Computing Teacher, 19(8). Retrieved from www.nctp.com/html/john_see.cfm.
What I've Learned
What I've found in conducting a comparison of plans is that plans that focus on what students will be DOING with the technology tend to be based on standards and research rather than simply having access to the latest trend.
Efforts and decisions that are based on what students will be DOING with technology will help administrators keep from getting wooed by companies and keep them from purchasing technology that won't get used or that won't be compatible with the school/district goals.
Office of Educational Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2016, from http://tech.ed.gov/
Common Features of a Technology Plan
Profile of the District
Overarching Technology Goal/Vision
Implementation
Budget/Funding
Professional Development
Evaluation
In an article by See (1992), the following guidelines are suggested for effective technology plans.
See, J. (1992). Developing Effective Technology Plans. The Computing Teacher, 19(8). Retrieved from www.nctp.com/html/john_see.cfm.
What I've found in conducting a comparison of plans is that plans that focus on what students will be DOING with the technology tend to be based on standards and research rather than simply having access to the latest trend.
Efforts and decisions that are based on what students will be DOING with technology will help administrators keep from getting wooed by companies and keep them from purchasing technology that won't get used or that won't be compatible with the school/district goals.